686 on the way

[sammy]

So I made the plunge and ordered a Smith & Wesson 686+. Drosing the gun yesterday, it was my first chance to see it, shipping from Buds gun shop. The trigger is awesome and the ballance is supurb, but the cylinder does not lock-up very well. When the cylinder is closed it has some side to side motion. Not much, but more than the example I fondled 2 weeks ago at a local gun range. Is their a easy fix for this or do I need a smith to tighten up the action? Does anyone know the measurable amount of movement that is allowed before a problem surfaces? This is my first revolver so bear with me. Thanks, Sammy

[BaronW]

did you pull back the hammer? I don't know how the lockup on a smith works exactly, but it's probably not completely locked until you pull back the hammer or (like colts and webleys IIRC) pull the trigger.

btw congrats on your new revolver!

[Harbinger]

Call Smith and Wesson. They can probably diagnose over the phone and I hear their gun smithing services are very reasonable!

Wait to hear from Bweise, though. Since he's a Smith-head, he may have better advice.

Mike

[cnyankee]

good gun...it was my very first gun and still have it and love it

[SJshooter]

Some side-to-side play when closed is fine. The real check is when the gun is in lock-up.

Check to make sure the gun is unloaded. Close the cylinder. Pull back the hammer, but hold onto it with your thumb. Pull the trigger and lower the hammer all the way down, but keep the trigger fully pulled back. Now, with trigger still all the way back and hammer all the way down - NOW check the play. This is when it is critical for there to be minimal movement. A very very little movement is okay, but not much. This will and should feel tighter than when the gun is just sitting there and you try and move the cylinder.

[sammy]

I did not check the movement with the hammer back. I assumed it would be the same. Thanks for the responses. Sammy

[dfletcher]

It's not so much with the hammer back, but rather with the trigger pulled. The hand is attached to and moves in concert with the trigger. As such pulling the trigger to the rear rather than the hammer will give you maximum lock up.

[glockman19]

Congrats. I like both the gun, S&W 686+ and Buds. I have the 4" barrel and think it's perfectly balanced.